Electrical contact device



Aug 14, 1934 w. w. ROBINSON 1,969,991

ELECTRICAL' CONTACT DEVI CE Filed July 5, 1929 Patented ug. 14, 1934 1,969,991 ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE Walter W. Robinson, Beloit, Wis., assignor of onehalf to Benjamin F. Lyons, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 5, 1929, Serial No. 376,060 5 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) These improvements relate to electrical contact devices. Their application is designed chiefly in connection with thermionic tubes. The chief object is to provide a highly efficient contact device in simple form and at low cost. A specific object is to provide means for supporting the arms of the substantially U-shaped part of the contact member against strains tending to distort them when the pin-like terminal of the tube is normally applied. Another specic object is to provide a simple form of connection between the device and the plate-like support whereby the device as a whole will be held strongly and against turning. Another specific object is to provide such a device complete from `a single piece of thin sheet metal. Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective of the device complete looking somewhat upward and forward;

Fig. 2 shows the construction in top plan,

partly in dotted lines, with afragment of a.

plate-like support such as the base board of a radio set; and

Fig. 3 is a medial transverse section, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the device assembled with the plate-like insulating support.

The device illustrated comprises a substantially U-shaped member consisting of a base 10 and a pair of arms 11 having their sides directed toward each other and their free ends formed to receive frictionally between them a pin-like terminal as 12 (Fig. 3) which may be considered one of the terminals of a thermionic tube. The free ends of the arms are preferably provided with upper extensions 13 flared to receive the terminal as 12 and with lower extensions 14 spread in directions apart to provide for easy withdrawal of theterminal should there be, as is often the case, a mass of solder at the lower end.

Preferably integral with the U-shaped member described, and preferably integral with the base 10 thereof, is a supporting member consisting of three parts. The rst part 15 extends away from the base 10 normally toward the plate of insulation 16 and then turns so that there is a flat part 17 substantially parallel with the general longitudinal direction of the arms 11 and adapted to lie iiat upon the under surface of the support 16, and a third part 18 extending normally downward, or in a the support 16 and in a direction transverse of the arms 11. This part 18 is preferably positioned between these arms 11 and also preferably close to the free ends of the arms. At the lower or free end portion of the part 18 there are integral lateral extensions 19 underlying the arms 1l and on which these arms rest. They save the arms strains when the pin-like terminal as 12 is applied through the hole 20 of the base 16 and then between the arms 11.Y These extensions 19 permit the free ends of the arms to movetoward and away from each other, and the width part 18 i's preferably such as to center the free ends of the arms with the hole 20 of the support 16 when the terminal is drawn away.

The parts 15, l'l and 18 form a substantially U-shaped member, especially with the base 10, which extends transverse of the arms 1l.

The device as a whole is preferably held upon the insulating support 16 by a rivet as 22. In order to hold the device as a whole against turning on the rivet a lug 24 is formed from the material of the part 1'7 at the time the rivet hole therein is formed, as by a punch-and-die operation, and the rivet hole in the support 16 is provided with a corresponding recess at 25 adapted to receive the lug 24 turned up at right angles from the part 17, as shown by Fig. 3. The rivet binds the device firmly while the lug insures a simple and easy assembly of plate 16 with the free ends of the arms 11 opposite the hole 20 in the support 16, and once so held the relationships are fixed.

A wiring terminal 27 is integral with the base 10 and is provided with a hole 28 for attaching a wire preliminary wire and lug together.

I provide also an auxiliary spring 30, which is substantially U-shaped in form and which fits snugly upon the outer sides of the arms 11 and passes around the base 10. This spring 30 is preferably of snugly it maintains itself in its desired operative position. The main body of the device may be made of such springy sheet material as brass, German silver, etc. and bycutting and forming operations well is to bend the arms 11 toward each other and into overlying relation with the lateral projections 19.

I contemplate as being included in these improvements all such variations, modifications from what is thus specifically i1- lustrated and described as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A contact member of the character defrom the effects of distorting C0 of the 65 the device with the to a nnal soldering of the 0G thin strip steel. Fitting understood. The last operation 10 departures and scribed comprising a substantially Ushaped body of sheet metal having a base and a pair of arms, with the free ends of the arms formed to receive frictionally between them a pin-like terminal directed transversely to the longitudinal direction of said arms, there being an integral extension from said base comprising three parts, the rst part being directed away from said base and being adapted to space the arms from a xed support, the second part extending from said rst part and being adapted to be secured to such fixed support, and `the third part extending from said second part and transversely of the arms and having 4means for supporting the arms against strains applied to the free end portions thereof whensuch pin-like terminal is forced between them.

2. The combination with a plate-like support having an opening therethrough for a pin-like terminal, of a contact member formed of thin sheet metal and comprising a base and a pair of arms directed toward each other at their free ends and with their free end portions formed and arranged to receive frictionally between them such pin-like terminal passing through said opening and directed transversely of the longitudinal directions of said arms, there being integral with said contact member a supporting member having a part secured to said plate-like support and a part extending transversely of said arms at a place intermediate said base and the free ends Lucanor of the arms, with means carried by said supporting member for holding said arms against substantial movement in a direction away from the plate-like support While providing that the arms may move respectively away from and toward each other when such pin-like terminal is normally inserted between the free ends of the arms and then withdrawn therefrom.

3. A contact member of the character described formed of thin sheet metal and comprising a. substantially U-shaped member having a base and a pair of arms extending therefrom and with the free end portions of the arms formed to receive frictionally between them a pin-like terminal directed transversely of said arms, there being an integral extension of said base including a part adapted to be secured upon a plate-like support and a part extending transversely of and between said arms, said last-mentioned part having lateral extensions on which said arms may rest.

4. The combination of claim 2 hereof in which there is an auxiliary spring of substantially U- shape form encompassing said arms and pressing their free ends toward each other.

5. The combination of claim,3 hereof in which there is an auxiliary spring of substantially U- shape form encompassing said arms and pressing their free ends toward each other.

WALTER W. ROBINSON. 

